Name: Ken Uhlman
Age: 54
Event: Private pilot checkride
Where:Capital City Airport, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Airplane: Cessna 172
Other than wishing I started earlier in life, my journey to becoming a private pilot has been nothing short of incredible. Starting in 2000 and flying until 2002, I took an eight- year hiatus for a sales position with extensive travel, and basically started over in 2010. While the job kept me from flying for a time, it also paved the way to continuing my lessons, and in May 2013 it allowed me to purchase a Cessna 172.
Over the past three years, we sadly lost the owner of the flight school, which put the school into financial turmoil and kept the Cessnas off the line, forcing me to switch to a CTLS. When the school was reestablished, the owners of the Cessna I had been flying sold the airplane, so I had to switch again.
Fast forward to September 2013—three years, including several nasty Pennsylvania winters, four airplanes, 150 hours of practice, and two checkrides later—I had the thrill of passing the checkride in my own airplane. Lesson learned: The road may be long and full of unexpected events, but never give up on your dream!
Name: Ken Copheranham
Age: 48
Event: Private pilot checkride
Where: Amarillo International, Amarillo, Texas
Airplane: Cessna 172S
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